My Response to Anupam Kher's Speech at Telegraph debate

Dear Mr. Kher,

I heard you speaking at the Telegraph National Debate. I believe the topic of the debate was ‘whether tolerance is the new intolerance’. I guess it was not about how many days leave Mr. Modi has taken in last couple of years or where he spends his Diwali. I was, therefore, puzzled to see your entire speech being focused on defending Mr. Modi and publicizing his greatness! Your love and dedication towards the Prime Minister is really appreciable. But please don’t hate those who are critical of him. Mr. Modi has been elected for a five year term with a clear majority. There is absolutely no possibility of him losing his throne because of the criticisms. Therefore, I don’t see any reason for you to be so ‘intolerant’ towards his critics.

You often project yourself as a champion of tolerance but you were so intolerant and agitated about the views of other panelists that you almost got a heart-attack! You yelled and shouted at fellow panelists like a hooligan. Pardon my language but, with my limited repertoire of English vocabulary, I could not think of a better word than ‘hooligan’ to describe your theatrics. Some people may have appreciated you for your ‘heroic’ speech, but I found it utterly disgraceful and ridiculous. You yelled at Justice Ganguly for criticizing a Supreme Court judgement! But, from where did you get this idea that Supreme Court judgements cannot be criticized? Pardon me sir, but that just shows how little you know about the justice system and freedom of expression. The real problem today is that people like you with their half-baked knowledge and misconstrued ideas are trying to redefine nationalism and FOE.
 
You lamented about being branded a ‘Chamcha’ for supporting Mr. Modi. But, aren’t you also doing exactly the same thing or may be even worse? Whoever speaks against Mr. Modi is an antinational according to you! You said all those who are making inflammatory and hate speeches in the ruling party must be thrown out of party and put behind bars. But do you really believe that will ever happen? It is, therefore, very convenient and hypocritical on your part to show your made-up anger against them in public to score some brownie points, while you know very well in your heart that what you are saying is never going to happen. I believe you are very close to the Prime Minister and I have seen you meeting him on various occasions. Have you ever asked him why he is not taking the actions that you prescribed in your speech against the errant politicians? Who do you think is a greater danger to our society? Some people who are peacefully returning their awards or the politicians who are openly inciting violence and making hate speeches? While you took a very extreme position against the so called award-wapsi brigade, you are not willing to go beyond showing your made-up anger against the errant politicians! That makes me question your intensions and your loyalty. Is your loyalty really towards the nation or it is just towards a political party?

We have had many debates in the recent past about India being tolerant or intolerant. But I don’t think anyone has ever said that India as a country is intolerant or tolerant. That’s a false binary, created by people like you on either side to serve their own ulterior motives. When concerns are being raised about the growing intolerance it is about the growing intolerance towards each other by certain sections of people. As much as you try to ignore, that growing polarization and hatred towards each other is very palpable. We cannot save the day by simply denying its existence or by suppressing the voices that want to talk about it. We have to first acknowledge the problem in order to find a real solution. The fact that we can’t even have a civilized debate without shouting and yelling at each other is a clear indication of how ‘intolerant’ we have become towards each other! After every such debate we hear phrases like ‘traitors slapped’, ‘anti-nationals ripped apart’ and so on. Is this your idea of a united India? These debates are becoming counterproductive because instead of inspiring the audience to be accommodative towards each other’s views, speakers like you on either side are inciting them to take even more extreme positions.

There have always been a handful of people who hold extreme views and for them whoever doesn’t fall in line with their views is their enemy. They have always existed. But the problem is that these fringe elements are now openly spreading their hatred among the ordinary citizens. Often mixed with misleading half-truths. The hatred which was confined to a handful of people is now spreading like wildfire and affecting the common man who had nothing do with this madness earlier. I am not saying the Govt is intentionally enabling these hatemongers. But, it is certainly not doing enough to curb them either. And because the Govt is not taking any visible and stern action against these hatemongers it appears as if the Govt is supporting them.

Mr. Kher, I disagree with most of your views and I have serious doubts about the true intensions behind your crusade. But I don’t consider you my enemy. I don’t hate you.

Warm regards,
Jay Samal